Decades before charities had “Giving Tuesday,” and long before anyone ever thought of “Centre Gives,” there was The Alternative Christmas Fair. A beloved Centre County tradition since 1982, the ACF is a way for people to give to more than 30 charities each December and participate in the true spirit of the holiday season.This year, the ACF will pass the million-dollar mark in total donations to charity since its inception. (We’re at $992,078 right now). We think that qualifies as awesome. Our tangible thing is the event itself. It’s a community-building gathering, a celebration of the wonderful services available in Centre County, an opportunity for the charities themselves to connect with other groups doing related work, one-stop holiday gift shopping for everyone on your list, and a delicious meal too. University Baptist and Brethren Church (UBBC) administers the ACF. On Sunday, Dec 8, approximately 30 charities will set up booths in Fellowship Hall and the Fireside Room at UBBC, 411 S. Burrowes St, State College. Between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day, people from the congregation and from the community at large will come to the Fair. They will browse the booths, talk with the representatives of the charities, and on a single sheet of paper indicate which ones they want to support and how much they want to give to each. Then they head to the check-out line and pay. UBBC furnishes each donor with attractive cards and envelopes so that they can give them to friends and loved ones informing them that a Christmas donation has been made in their name to a particular charity. While UBBC collects the money, it keeps none of it. Every penny of the charitable donations goes to the non-profits who participate. From the beginning, the ACF has sought support from the local community. Many people who have no connection with UBBC come to the Fair each year. And each year we work to broaden that community link. The charities that the ACF serves are detailed on the ACF website.